American Express Essential Credit Card Review

Build your credit with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus

Cons:

Only available to Canadian residents

No bankruptcies in last 7 years

Apply Now Everybody knows that American Express has some of the best credit cards out there, but I think you’ll really like this new card they’ve just put out. It’s called American Express Essential and I’ve just had a chance to check it out. Let’s get into the review of this brand new card from AMEX.

Who This Card Is Designed For

Before I get into all of the features this card offers, let’s talk about what type of consumer would be a good fit for the AMEX Essential credit card. Different credit cards are designed for people with different spending habits, so it’s a good idea to make sure you go with a card that matches your specific situation.

First of all, this card is for Canadian residents with an annual income of at least $15,000. Unlike most American Express credit cards, this card doesn’t have strict eligibility requirements. The most important requirement is that you haven’t filed for bankruptcy in the past 7 years. Need help with a previous bankruptcy? Check out my article on how to remove a bankruptcy from your credit report.

Entertainment Access Benefits

If you’re into concerts, theatre productions, restaurants and special events then this card was designed for you. A huge benefit of this card is what AMEX calls American Express Invites™. In a nutshell, this card benefit basically allows you to purchase tickets to events such as concerts before they are available to the general public. It also allows you to purchase Front of the Line tickets and reserved seating. When you apply for the card, they’ll provide you with all the specific details.

Credit card companies always come out with “cardholder benefits” to entice you to sign up, but honestly, this is something I’d probably take advantage of personally. Now let’s get into some more features this card has to offer.

American Express Essential Credit Card Features

Enjoy a low 8.99% interest rate on purchases

Have the flexibility to pay your balance in full or over time

Enjoy a 1.99% interest rate on optional balance transfers in the first 6 months if you choose to transfer your non-American Express card balances to this Card. There is no balance transfer fee at time of application

Access to memorable experiences with American Express Invites™

Shopping coverage and 24/7 Customer Service

American Express is not responsible for main or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information and Terms and Conditions, click the Apply now link.

Conditions apply

The Recap

The American Express Essential Credit Card is a credit card for Canadian residents. The eligibility requirements are not strict by any means. I believe a good deal of people who apply for this card will get approved. The major benefit of this card is special access to events such as concerts. It’s going to be a good card for anybody looking to build their credit such as those of you just getting out of college.

I would love to know what you think of this card, so please leave a comment telling me about your experience with the card.

Ryan Greeley is the Editor-In-Chief of BetterCreditBlog.org, where he oversees publishing and content creation. In addition, Ryan has written about credit extensively over the past 10 years for publications such as Lifehacker, BuzzFeed, and The Huffington Post.

Leave a Reply

Meet the Experts

Ryan Greeley is the Editor-In-Chief of BetterCreditBlog.org, where he oversees publishing and content creation. In addition, Ryan has written about credit extensively over the past 10 years for publications such as Lifehacker, BuzzFeed, and The Huffington Post. Read more…

Connect with Us

Disclaimer

The content on this site is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not professional financial advice. References to third party products, rates, and offers may change without notice. Visit the referenced site for current information.

We may receive compensation through third party advertisers and products mentioned on this site. All reviews on this site represent the opinions of the author.